LANGUAGE AND

SUBCULTURE
EVI PEBRI ILA RACHMA, S.Pd., M.
Definition of subculture
According to Oxford English Dictionary
(the OED), subculture, means “an
identifiable subgroup within a society or
group of people, especially one
characterized by beliefs or interests at
variance with those of the larger group”.
The term first appears in English
language documents in 1914. Originally
“subculture” indicated a particular group of
people and their culture.
Kinds Of Language
Subcultures
Chronolect Jargon

Acrolect Slank

Basilect Argot
 1. Chronolect
Old English
A chronolect (temporal dialect) a linguistic variant (600-1100)
used at particular stages in its historical
development or specific speech variety whose
characteristics are in particular determined by time- Middle English
related factors. Its means the language variation (1100-1450)
that is used by a certain social group in particular
time. Early Modern
English
(1450-1700)
For example : we identify Shakespeare’s English as
being different from our English
Modern
English
(1700-present)
Chronolect / Temporal Dialect

1. Diachronic linguistics : is the historical

study of language. Diachronic linguistics
refers to the study of how a language
evolves over a period time.
2. Synchronic : study of language is a
comparison of languages or dialect used
within some defined spatial region and
during the same period.
 2. Acrolect
Acrolect is the language variety
(creole) of a speech community closest
to the standard or prestige form of
language.

For [Derek] Bickerton, an acrolect

refers to the variety of a creole that has
no significant difference from
Standard English, often spoken by the
most educated speakers.

Example : Jamaican standard

English
3. Basilect
Contrast with acrolect, basilect is a
language variety that is significantly
different from the standard variety.

Basilect is a term for dialects of speech

which have diverged so far from the
standard language that in essence they
have become a different language.

Example : Broken Malaysian English

and Jamaican Creole.
 4. Mesolect
Mesolect refers to all varieties between acrolect and
basilect and to the phenomenon of code-switching
used by some users of creole languages who also
have some fluency in the standard language upon
which the contact language is based (mixing and
switching both of acrolect and basilect)

Example : Jamaican people use both of Jamaican

creole and standard English.
 Jamaican creole
1. Where is it? (Standard English)
A wier I de? (Jamaican creol = Mesolect)
A we I de ? (Jamaican creol = Basilect)
2. I didn’t eat any (Standard English)
A in nyam non (Jamaican creol = Mesolect)
Mu na bin nyam non (Jamaican creol =
Basilect)
3. I told him (Standard English)
I tol’ him (Acrolect)
I tell im (Mesolect)
I tell him (Mesolect)
Ah tel im (Mesolect)
Me tel he (Basilect)
Me tel e (Basilect)
Me tel am (Basilect)
 5. Slang
Slang is very informal language or specific words used by a particular
group of people. We will usually hear slang spoken more often than we wlll
see it put in writing.

1. Some slang words change their meaning over time, usually across
generations. This keeps the word in usage but can lead to some
miscommunication between older and younger speakers. For example:

Hip: Originally "hip" or "hep" meant someone very fashionable in the first
half of the 20th century. It evolved to mean someone into jazz and beatnik
culture in the 1940s and 50s, and changed further still into "hippie" to
describe flower children of the 60s. Today it's changed again to "hipster,"
meaning a self-aware, artsy person.
"My hip grandfather plays the sax, but my hipster brother just makes
homemade pickles."
2. Some slang terms are created by combining two words into one that
has a new meaning.

a. Frenemy: This combination of "friend" and "enemy" describes a

person who is a little bit of both, perhaps a friend with whom one
experiences regular conflict.
b. Bromance: This combination of "brother" and "romance" describes an
intense friendship between two straight men.
c. Ginormous: This combination of "gigantic" and "enormous" means
something very large.
3. Modern Slang
a. Epic: If somewhat was "epic," it was highly enjoyable.
b. GOAT: Current usage is actually a compliment, as this is now an
acronym that stands for "greatest of all time.“
c. On point: Outstanding, perfectly executed.
d. Salty: Angry or bitter about something.
e. Savage: Someone who "roasts" people nonstop and doesn't care
what others will say.
f. YOLO: An acronym for "you only live once," encouraging people to
seize the day.
g. Dafuq: The way of saying WTF because the WTF was not already
short enough.
h. FOMO: Fear of Missing Out
3. Modern Slang
- Morning person - Healing
- OVT - FWB
- Hiden gem - Mood swing
- Sleepycall - Personal space / me
- Deeptalk time
- Toxic positivity - Inner child
- Staycation - Bestie
- Trust issue - Silent treatment
- Preloved - Cyber widow
- Sexiest
- Feminist
- Toxic masculinity
 Assignment

Jargon ? Argot ?
THANK YOU